Asia's Got Talent

MANILA -- After being named the first-ever winner of ''Asia's Got Talent'', El Gamma Penumbra will be paying a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III this week, the group's manager said.

Dong Pilotos, the group's manager, told dzMM that the all-Filipino troup will pay a courtesy call on Aquino this Tuesday.

The all-Filipino troupe from Batangas City beat eight other finalists, including three other Philippine acts, after earning the most public votes from the regional audience of "Asia's Got Talent" -- which is billed as the biggest talent search in the world.

The lone country to have multiple acts in the finals, the Philippines was joined by contenders from Mongolia (runner-up Khusugtun), Thailand (boys' rock band The Talento), China (acrobatic duto Gao Lin and Liu Xin), Singapore (girls' tap dance group Dance Thrilogy), and Japan (dance troup Triqstar).

Khusugtun, a traditional music ensemble from Mongolia, placed second; while Filipino classical singer Gerphil Flores, who is also a former "Pilipinas Got Talent" contestant, finished third.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the group “symbolizes the innate talent and brilliance” of Filipinos that had been proven on many occasions and in various fields.

Pilotos, meanwhile, said the group will make sure that all its tax obligations will be met.

Asia's Got Talent winner El Gamma Penumbra greets their townmates during a homecoming motorcade in Tanauan, Batangas on Saturday. The group received a citation from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, honoring them for their success in Asia's biggest talent competition. Photo: ABS-CBN News
BATANGAS – El Gamma Penumbra, who won the top prize at the very first “Asia’s Got Talent” last Thursday, wants to set up a shadow dance studio for talented but less fortunate kids.

In a press conference after their motorcade in Batangas on Saturday, the group said they will use their cash prize from the pan-regional talent search to put up the dance school in order to encourage the youth to develop a hobby and stay away from drugs.

El Gamma Penumbra also promised to continue helping two homes for the aged in Tanauan and Lipa in Batangas as part of their advocacy.

Furthermore, they plan to start a foundation to provide assistance to the elderly who are in charity homes and to train kids gifted with the talent of singing and dancing.

Asked if they can perform in social gatherings, members of El Gamma Penumbra said they already received numerous invitations from different companies and announced that they have prepared a lot of routines enough to perform in various shows.

Meanwhile, the parents of the group's members also thanked the public for voting.

Their parents said they are grateful to those who helped the group, who were just simple teenagers who were into hip-hop before they won the Asian talent contest.